Bengaluru: The last date to link aadhar number to ration cards is extended to September 30 failing which the ration cards will be cancelled, said food and civil supplies minister UT Khadar.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the minister said the non-linked ration cards will be cancelled after verification. This is being done to eliminate bogus ration cards in future, he confirmed.
He further said around 98% of the cards have been linked till date and in 30% cases linking individual names to the family ration cards is pending. Those names too will be removed from the ration cards if not linked to aadhar numbers before the dead line and the monthly family ration quota will decrease accordingly, he confirmed.
However many wonder at the move of the state government which is making aadhar linking mandatory though supreme court has not insisted on the same for social schemes.
Continuing the minister said, fresh application for ration in rural areas will be received till month end. Issuance of ration card is now brought under SAKALA due to which the ration cards can be obtained within a week, he clarified. From October 1 coupons will be issued for 3 months period and the non-linked cards if linked at a later stage will get coupons later, he added.
Bifurcation of APL and BPL cards has been moved to panchayath and rural department from the food department and the same will be now done by gram panchyath secretaries using four declared parameters instead of food inspectors in the past, he confirmed. Cards will be sent to the deserving beneficiaries through speed post only and the cost involved will be around Rs 100 for the same, he clarified.
There are 55238 fair price shops in town limits and 31, 49,948 beneficiaries Out of the 15, 19,854 ration card holders availed coupons till date. Those BPL card holders taking kerosene has to inform on their willingness to avail the quota by visiting respective gram panchayath, he mentioned.
Finally he said, distribution of 1 kg of turdhal to BPL card holders every month will be started once the proposal gets government nod. It may be recalled the state chief minister Siddaramiah had announced the scheme of giving 1 kg turdal to each BPL card holder during his independence day address which will cost the state exchequer Rs 30 crores.
